An act relating to emergency management
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.
Fire duty and ticket system repealed
Beginning July 1, 2026, the law removes the specific duty to fully extinguish fires in or beside woods before leaving. It also repeals Vermont's uniform fire-prevention ticket system. These changes remove that duty and enforcement tool, not every fire-safety rule.
Agencies gain temporary emergency rule powers
Beginning June 17, 2026, agencies can issue emergency rules when federal changes materially conflict with or threaten required Vermont programs. This authority ends July 1, 2028. The law also allows emergency rule changes required by federal law or multistate programs when implementation is required within 120 days. Legislative rule reviewers retain authority to object. These powers do not themselves change a program's benefits, eligibility, or household obligations.
Fire chiefs take local wildfire responsibility
Beginning July 1, 2026, responding fire department and fire district chiefs serve as local forest fire wardens. Areas with multiple departments must choose one chief and notify the Commissioner; areas without one can contract with a neighbor. Private department chiefs need local approval, and deputies can issue only the specified fire permits. Special wardens must be trained state forestry employees, with official expenses paid from the department's budget. The law names both the State Forester and State Forest Fire Warden as holding exclusive forest-fire authority under the covered laws. Local wardens must notify forestry officials within 24 hours of discovering fires off state natural-resources land and report every fire within 48 hours after extinguishment.
Towns can recover nonstate wildfire costs
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Commissioner can repay municipalities for fighting forest fires on land outside state natural-resources ownership. Reimbursement can cover some or all costs, but requires appropriated or otherwise available funds. Municipalities remain responsible for suppression costs; payment is not guaranteed.
Vermont funds emergency dispatch and radios
Beginning July 1, 2026, Public Safety can use $6.94 million in previously appropriated or reserved funds for emergency communications. This includes $2.25 million for a shared computer-aided dispatch system and five years of software licensing. That money requires requests for proposals and signed service contracts on or before January 1, 2027. Another $190,000 supports cybersecurity, expanded RapidSOS use, and geographic mapping; $4.5 million over three years supports radio design and pilots at 10 or more sites. The communications task force advises through February 15, 2027, with member daily pay and expenses covered by Public Safety appropriations. Public Safety must report implementation spending on May 1, 2027, January 15, 2028, and January 15, 2029.
Vermont studies stronger wildfire response capacity
Beginning July 1, 2026, a new task force studies Vermont's wildfire response needs and recommends improvements. It examines fire incidence, staffing, funding, equipment, infrastructure, laws, and coordination among state, local, and federal responders. Reports are due February 15, 2027, and again in July 2027. The task force ends November 16, 2027. Members can receive daily pay and expense reimbursement from forestry appropriations; no amount is specified.
Emergency food grants depend on funding
Beginning July 1, 2026, the law establishes an annual Ready Response grant for an eligible food bank with a written agreement. It covers full costs of buying, storing, staging, rotating, replenishing, and distributing ready-to-eat shelf-stable food and bottled water. Covered costs include leased storage, vehicles, drivers, and warehouse staff; supplies rotate under industry guidelines. Emergency supplies serve people in Vermont without adequate food or water when Emergency Management requests help or responds to an emergency. Rotated supplies go equitably through the charitable food network to qualifying tax-exempt nonprofits serving Vermont. Both Ready Response and Technical Rescue grants require sufficient funds within Public Safety and the Agency of Administration; no grant amount is guaranteed.
Forest cutting requires roadside debris removal
Beginning July 1, 2026, people who cut or arrange cutting of forest growth must remove logging debris near roads and neighboring forests. The clearing distance is 50 feet from public highway rights-of-way or boundary lines of adjoining owners' forestland. This includes branches, tree tops, and other woody debris left after logging.
Forest fires face broader access limits
Beginning July 1, 2026, you need the owner's permission to build a fire on someone else's forestland year-round. The rule no longer applies only from April 1 through November 1 or names lessees and agents as permission-givers. During high fire danger or an air-quality alert, the Commissioner can stop or limit fire permits. The forestry commissioner can also ban fires on state natural-resources land when necessary. During excessive forest-fire danger, the Governor can ban fires in or beside forestland or close forestland and brushland. Owners, household members, tenants, servants, and agents lose their exemptions; the Governor directs notice posting, without a specified newspaper-publication requirement.
Towns face stricter state-land fire reimbursement
Beginning July 1, 2026, reimbursement for fighting fires on state natural-resources land is discretionary, not guaranteed. The Commissioner can approve some or all costs at a rate the Commissioner sets. Wardens must request state Wildland Fire Team help within one hour of discovering the fire. They must report within 24 hours after extinguishment, and localities must submit detailed costs within 60 days. The Commissioner can add requirements; approved payments come from the forest fire suppression appropriation.
Outdoor fires face permits and exemptions
Beginning July 1, 2026, burning natural wood, brush, weeds, or grass outdoors generally requires a town or deputy warden's permit. Category 1 fires need no permit: they are no more than 36 inches across in specified recreational settings or at least 200 feet from forestland or connected flammable plants. Fires surrounded by snow and primitive-camping fires on state natural-resources land that follow Commissioner rules are also exempt. Category 2 covers specified natural-wood fires; Category 3 planned broadcast burns need a plan stating location, goals, and an escaped-fire response. Special wardens issue Category 3 permits on state natural-resources land. After approval, wardens must issue a written permit within 12 hours stating when, where, and any added conditions.
Towns set pay for fire wardens
Beginning July 1, 2026, municipalities must pay forest fire wardens and deputies for time spent performing their duties. The selectboard sets the amount. The law ends fixed state payments of $30 annually, $30 per required training day, and $10 per submitted fire report. Replacement pay amounts are not specified.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
House message: Governor approved bill on June 17, 2026
5/29/2026HouseSigned by Governor on June 17, 2026
5/29/2026HouseDelivered to Governor on June 11, 2026
5/29/2026HouseHouse message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
5/29/2026HouseSenate proposal of amendment concurred in
5/28/2026HouseRules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
5/28/2026HouseNotice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/28/2026HouseSenate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/27/2026SenateRules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/27/2026SenateRead 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
5/27/2026SenateRules suspended & bill placed on all remaining stages of passage, on motion of Senator Baruth
5/27/2026Senate3rd reading ordered
5/27/2026SenateProposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations, as amended, agreed to
5/27/2026SenateProposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations
5/27/2026SenateReported favorably by Senator Perchlik for Committee on Appropriations with proposal of amendment
5/27/2026SenateRead 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Collamore for Committee on Government Operations
5/27/2026SenateFavorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
5/27/2026SenateFavorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
5/27/2026SenateNew Business/Second Reading
5/27/2026SenateFavorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
5/26/2026SenateFavorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
5/26/2026SenateSecond Reading
5/26/2026SenateEntered on Notice Calendar
5/26/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
5/14/2026SenateFavorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations
5/14/2026Senate
Bill Text
As Enacted (ACT 162)Opens in a new window
6/19/2026
As Passed by Both Chambers
6/5/2026
As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)
6/5/2026
Senate Proposal of Amendment
5/28/2026
Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)
5/28/2026
As Passed by the House
4/2/2026
As Passed by the House (Unofficial)
4/2/2026
As Introduced
3/16/2026
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